He was born on April 15, 1941, in Boston Navy Hospital, Chelsea, MA. A WWII war orphan, his birth parents were Rufus and Ruth Porter of Boston, MA. He was adopted by retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant Roy and Elizabeth Wilkerson Brantley of Atlanta, GA.

Dennis graduated from St. Paul’s High School in Meggett, SC in 1959 and attended the University of South Carolina. He was in the active US Navy for 4 years and retired from the US Navy Reserves as Chief Petty Officer in 1995, after 30 years of service. He worked at the Charleston Naval Shipyard as an electronic mechanic and retired as a Polaris missile inspector from civil service at POMFLANT in 1994. He was appointed and then elected for 2 terms, serving 10 years on the Charleston County District 4 School Board and appointed to Cooper River Parks & Playground Commission for 12 years. Dennis’ passions were his wife, family, community, Gamecock sports, football and car restoration. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother.

Besides his parents, he is predeceased by 2 brothers: Douglas and David Porter; and a sister, Judith Kettenstock.

Special thanks to Jimmy (Dennis’ Best Man) and Boot Golden, and his Pastor Kevin Stroop for their support during this difficult time.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM – 3:00PM on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 5412 Highway 165, Hollywood, SC, 29449, immediately followed by a memorial service at 3:00 PM

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (address above); Hospice Care of South Carolina, 9225 University Blvd., Suite EA-2, North Charleston, SC 29406; or Water Mission, 2049 Savannah Hwy., Charleston, SC 29407.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com.